Against the backdrop of the recurring ethno-religious clashes recorded in many parts of Nigeria in recent times, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Wednesday advocated for the peaceful resolution of such crises.
Receiving a delegation of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) who paid him a courtesy visit, Tambuwal said that the pursuit of peaceful means in resolving crises was important if the country was to achieve its development goals.
“As a people, it is our responsibility to build on what God has given us. I call on you (ACF) and Nigerians, especially those living outside their states of origin, to live in harmony with others,” Tambuwal said.
“Peace is an essential element for attaining development. We are aware of our diversity and differences. The challenge is in understanding them.
“As religious leaders, you cannot practice religion if there is no peace,” he added.
The speaker raised alarm over the grave implications of a situation where Nigeria would spiral into an uncontrollable crisis, even as he noted that with a population as large as Nigeria’s, such crisis would exert serious strain on the continent.
“No country in Africa can contain the refugee crisis if Nigeria goes into crisis,” he said.
Delivering a three-page address, leader of delegation and ACF’s South-South and South-East geo-political zones, Alhaji Musa Saidu, said the National Assembly played a pivotal role in the development of the country through its powers of appropriation, oversight and investigation.
Meanwhile, The House of Representatives has moved to intervene to stop the strike action threatened by the NLC over alleged refusal by some state governors to pay the N18, 000 minimum wage, passed by the National Assembly and endorsed by President Goodluck Jonathan.
To this end, the legislators have called on President Jonathan to initiate a review of the revenue allocation formula in favour of states and local governments, with a view to enabling them pay the N18, 000 minimum wage.
Adopting the resolutions of a motion sponsored by Hon Peace Nnaji on Wednesday, the lawmakers also directed the leadership of the House to meet with organised labour, the minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity and other relevant agencies, before a final decision to? proceed with the strike is made.
Part of the resolution was, “That this House hereby calls on organised labour to allow the House dialogue with the minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity and other relevant agencies on the issue”.
They also “urged the leadership of the House to meet the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, with a view to resolving this crucial issue once and for all.”
Only recently, governors of the 36 tates, under the auspices of the Rotimi Amaechi-led Governors’ Forum, reviewed the minimum wage controversy and resolved that until the current revenue formula was amended, the states would not be able to pay the new wage.
The governors equally asked the federal government to remove petroleum subsidy, if the states were to review their workers salary upwards.
However, an amendment to compel the state governors to commence immediate implementation of the minimum wage Act, while the review of the legislation was being processed was rejected by the House.
Only last week, organised labour had at a press conference issued a 14-day ultimatum to government to begin implementation of the new wage, or face a nationwide industrial action.